Carrie Hobgood Kirkman née Donnell, 91, of Elkin, North Carolina passed away on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Elizabeth House Hospice in Flat Rock, NC. She was born March 17, 1921 in Thomasville, NC to Carrie Perryman Donnell and James Harper Donnell. She married Robert Lee Kirkman, Jr. (predeceased) in Winston-Salem, NC at Home Moravian Church on December 28, 1943. A lifelong educator herself, Mrs. Kirkman left her home in Thomasville to live with her uncle and aunt Harvey and Ella Perryman where she began her own education at the Winston-Salem School at the age of six. An editor of the Salemite College Paper and honor student, she graduated from Salem College with a degree in English. She devoted her life to public service and education, teaching and working in school administration for 36 years. Two years after retirement, she returned to the workforce by choice, attending computer school before working as an administrative assistant for Century 21 Reality in Elkin for ten years. A resident of Elkin for seventy years, Mrs. Kirkman devoted her life to the public, serving with such organizations as United Methodist Women, the First Methodist Church of Elkin, the North Carolina Democratic Party, the Surry County Arts Council, the Board for Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare Services of which she also served as Chair for a period of time, and the Elkin Public Library.

Mrs. Kirkman is survived by her daughter Carrie Donnell Kirkman of Cullowhee NC and her son Robert Lee Kirkman III and his wife Sue Kirkman of Asheville NC. She is also survived by four grandchildren and two great grandchildren: granddaughter Judith Kirkman Collins and great grandson Jack Harrell Collins of Asheville NC; grandson Joseph William Freeman III of Cullowhee NC; granddaughter Whitney Caldwell Sutphin married to Marlo Thomas Sutphin and great grandson Rivers Morrow Sutphin of Charleston SC; and granddaughter Hannah Cowles Freeman and Jeffrey Allen Hawkins of Richmond Kentucky. She is also survived by her brother James Harper Donnell of Winston Salem, his daughter Candy Donnell of Winston Salem, his son James Harper Donnell III and wife Carrell of Springfield Georgia. She is predeceased by her sister Caldwell Donnell and a host of friends.

The memorial service will be held on Wednesday January 23, at First Methodist Church Elkin at 2:00p.m. followed by a reception at the church for family and friends. Mark L. Barden, pastor of First Methodist Church and Fred Jordan will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Elizabeth House Hospice in Flat Rock, NC or the United Methodist Women organization of Elkin, NC.

The family would like to thank Elizabeth House Hospice and the staff at Sunnybrook Retirement Community in Hendersonville, NC. An avid lifelong reader and lover of the arts, Mrs. Kirkman will be loved, appreciated, and remembered for her tireless commitment to family, church, and community.

Online condolences may be made at www.johnson-funeral.com

Johnson Funeral Home is assisting the Kirkman family.